Assessment of a Mindfulness Meditation Elective in an Accelerated Doctor of Pharmacy Program.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of a live 14-week mindfulness elective course on the well-being of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students in an accelerated program. Pharmacy students enrolled in a mindfulness elective participated in weekly class sessions that included an eight-week mindfulness program geared toward emerging adults. Eight weekly reflections were assigned to students and evaluated using the Text iQ text-analysis tool in Qualtrics.

Exploring the effects of a smartphone-based meditation app on stress, mindfulness, well-being, and resilience in pharmacy students.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of the smartphone-based meditation app Ten Percent Happier on stress, mindfulness, well-being, and resilience in pharmacy students.

Methods: Pharmacy students in a professional year of study were recruited to participate. Students were instructed to meditate using the Ten Percent Happier app for at least 5 days a week for 4 weeks.

Role of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) accounts for approximately 13% of all lung cancer diagnoses each year. SCLC is characterized by a rapid doubling time, early metastatic spread, and an unfavorable prognosis overall.

Areas Of Uncertainty: Most patients with SCLC will respond to initial treatment; however, the majority will experience a disease recurrence and response to second-line therapies is poor.

Profile of ramucirumab in the treatment of metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer.

The interaction between vascular endothelial growth factor and its receptor is an important therapeutic target due to the importance of this pathway in carcinogenesis. In particular, this pathway promotes and regulates angiogenesis as well as increases endothelial cell proliferation, permeability, and survival. Ramucirumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that specifically targets the vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2, the key receptor implicated in angiogenesis.

Ceritinib: a new tyrosine kinase inhibitor for non-small-cell lung cancer.

Objective: To review ceritinib for the treatment of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)-positive metastatic non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Data Sources: Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, EMBASE (1974 to July week 5, 2014), and Google Scholar using the terms ceritinib, LDK378, and non-small-cell lung cancer.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: One phase 1 trial and 2 abstracts were identified.

Ado-trastuzumab emtansine for the treatment of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer.

Purpose: An update on completed and ongoing clinical trials of ado-trastuzumab emtansine for the treatment of metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is presented.

Summary: Ado-trastuzumab emtansine (Kadcyla, Genentech), the first U.S.

Dosing of enoxaparin for venous thromboembolism prophylaxis in obese patients.

Objective: To evaluate the appropriate dosing of enoxaparin as a venous thromboembolism (VTE) prophylaxis in hospitalized obese patients.

Data Sources: Literature articles were accessed through MEDLINE (1946 to August week 1, 2013) and EMBASE (1980 to 2013 week 33) searches using the terms enoxaparin, obesity, and thromboprophylaxis.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: All articles that involved human subjects and were published in the English language, evaluating the appropriate dose of enoxaparin for VTE prophylaxis in hospitalized, obese patients were included.

Vandetanib for the treatment of medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Objective: To review the place in therapy of vandetanib for medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC).

Data Sources: Literature searches were performed in Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Google Scholar using the search terms ZD6474 OR vandetanib OR Caprelsa combined with medullary thyroid carcinoma.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Two phase 2 trials and 1 phase 3 trial were identified.

Reversible ageusia associated with romidepsin therapy.

Purpose: The case of a patient who reported the complete loss of his sense of taste after about 3.5 months of romidepsin therapy is presented.

Summary: A man with a 12-year history of treatment-refractory cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) developed taste disturbances progressing to ageusia (the absence of taste perception) while receiving romidepsin therapy.

The role of denosumab for prevention of skeletal-related complications in multiple myeloma.

Objective: To evaluate the use of denosumab for the prevention of skeletal-related events (SREs) in patients with osteolytic lesions associated with multiple myeloma (MM).

Data Sources: MEDLINE/Ovid (1946-April week 3, 2013), EMBASE (1980-2013 week 16), abstracts of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (1983-April 22, 2013), American Society of Hematology (2004-April 22, 2013), European Hematology Association (1994-April 22, 2013), and the European Society for Medical Oncology (1990-April 22, 2013) were searched using the terms denosumab and multiple myeloma.

Study Selection And Data Extraction: Clinical trials comparing the efficacy of denosumab with that of bisphosphonates in preventing or delaying SREs in patients with MM were included.

Single-agent, broad-spectrum fluoroquinolones for the outpatient treatment of low-risk febrile neutropenia.

Objective: To evaluate the use of oral, single-agent, broad-spectrum fluoroquinolones in the treatment of low-risk febrile neutropenia (FN).

Data Sources: MEDLINE via Ovid (1948 to May, week 3, 2011) and EMBASE (1980 to 2011, week 21) were searched using the terms febrile neutropenia, fluoroquinolone, quinolone derivative, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, and neoplasm. References of selected articles, review articles, and treatment guidelines were reviewed.

Efficacy and safety of modafinil in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue.

Objective: To review the efficacy and safety of modafinil in the treatment of cancer-related fatigue (CRF). DATA SOUCES: Literature was accessed via MEDLINE (1950-week 3, November 2008), International Pharmaceutical Abstracts, and Google Scholar using the terms modafinil, cancer, and fatigue. Reference citations from articles identified were reviewed.